11/5/09

atlantic fashion week s/s '10

Last Thursday I attended the AFW s/s '10 shows at the Olympic Centre in Halifax, once again organized by City Models' Angela Campagnoni. I'm not gonna lie I was pretty excited about it because I was "press" this time around and not merely a spectator. However, I was a bit disappointed upon discovering that there were a few designers missing from this season's designer showcase that I would have liked to see, notably Katrina Tuttle who, only a week before showcased her wares at Toronto Fashion Week. A fresh addition to the AFW roster was accessories designer Megan Allison. Her pieces were fashioned with brass, bronze and copper and attached with strands of leather. Megan's Jamaican background shined through in her jewelry which were beautifully adorned with small turquoise and coral stones. The second show of the night was that of Lee Lategan's, another newbie. Hailing from the isle of Capri, Lategan's offerings had a decidedly Mediterranean influence complimented by refined shapes. The first, and probably the most memorable garment was a black silk gown boasting flamenco-inspired ruffles cascading down the back in vivid hues. Unfortunately I felt the rest of the collection fell flat and had a sort of mother-of-the-bride vibe. There were silk pantsuits in a variety of colors with nipped-waist jackets, some with a mandarin collar (which for me, was completely out of place). Youthfulness is the element that was missing from this collection. Luckily, youthfulness was exactly what the next collection did posess. Sunsets on the Eastside is composed of three designers from Prince Edward Island: Jackie Skinner, Kristin Sweet and Katryna Crabbe. With a palette that could have easily been inspired by their label, this was a collection rife with flirty minidresses and silk seperates. There were three versions of one particular chiffon dress with a whimsical floral print: the first had a sweet empire waist and modest neckline; the second, belted at the waist and a more revealing scoopneck; and the third, a deep v-neck with mesh detailing and a more contemporary handkerchief hem. Another of my favorite pieces was a taupe one-shouldered silk minidress cinched with a creme sash. The edgiest collection of the night belonged to Kim Munson's Orphanage. For some pieces the look was unmistakably burlesque: leather-paneled hot pants with ruffled hems worn with fishnet tights and punctuated by a leather tube top. (In this case, the models' '40s pin-up girl waves and cherry pouts were perfectly in keeping with the clothes). Other offerings included drop-crotch pants, deconstructed oxford shirts, a fun vintage Harley Davidson tee made into a tank, and a short sheath with a striking red obi belt. As far as I saw, there was only one miss in this collection: a sleeveless asymmetrical dress cut so high in the back that it was all the model could do not to reveal her bum. If it were two or three inches shorter, I might have loved it. Cape Breton native Veronica MacIsaac was the last and most surprising collection of the night. The collection I saw in March was very traditional while this collection was refreshingly playful fused with the perfect amount of tradition. A bandeau bikini in black watch tartan began the show, followed by another bikini and two models sporting boy short underwear and tanks emblazoned with "Eire", the Gaelic word for Ireland. This word was repeated on several garments; it would be redundant to say that MacIsaac is proud of her roots. A cute tank dress capped off the intimates portion of the show. One piece I would love to own of Veronica's collection was a slim pant with tartan print. Classic yet you could pair it with a motorcycle jacket. On the whole, I can't wait until March's f/w 2010 event. You can view photos of all the collections here.